DA argues iPhone could help ID possible third San Bernardino shooter

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- After the Dec. 2 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, there were some reports of a third shooter at the Inland Regional Center.

The FBI says its evidence at this point still indicates only two shooters Syed Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik. But law enforcement officials argue that encrypted data on Farook's iPhone could provide certainty on that and other issues.

A brief filed by San Bernardino District Attorney Michael Ramos argues: "Although the reports of three individuals were not corroborated, and may ultimately be incorrect, the fact remains that the information contained solely on the seized iPhone could provide evidence to identify as of yet unknown co-conspirators."

Now, even the United Nations is getting involved in the issue - on the side of Apple.

The U.N.'s high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, on Friday warned that forcing Apple to crack the iPhone's encryption would open the door for authoritarian regimes that want to pry secrets out of human rights activists, journalists and political dissidents. He described the FBI's effort as a gift to criminal hackers and dictators around the world.

"There is unfortunately no shortage of security forces around the world who will take advantage of the ability to break into people's phones if they can," he said.